Interspecific tree named &#39;Plumred XI&#39;

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an interspecific tree and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a medium size, medium to weak vigor, hardy, and very productive tree. Being self-unfruitful, the present variety requires cross pollination from an apricot, interspecific, or plum tree that blooms during the late season. The present variety produces a moderate amount of blossoms with sufficient pollen to entice good bee activity to facilitate pollination. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described during late July, with first picking on Jul. 24, 2014. The fruit is uniformly medium in size, mostly red in skin color with moderate freckling, clingstone in type, globose to oblate in shape, mostly orange in flesh color, firm in texture, typically 19 brix, and good in flavor.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Prunus sp.

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘PLUMRED XI’

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, I, theinventor, typically hybridize a large number of peach, nectarine, plum,apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. I also grow a lesser number ofopen pollinated seeds of each of these fruits. The present inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of interspecific tree which hasbeen denominated varietally as ‘Plumred XI’.

During a typical blooming season I isolate as seed parents bothindividual and groups of different plum trees by covering them withscreen houses. A hive of bees is placed inside each such house, andbouquets to provide pollen from different plum, apricot, andinterspecific plum-apricot hybrid trees are placed in buckets near thetrees approximately every two days for the duration of the bloom. During2000 I covered a group of six different plum trees and crossed them inthis manner. To pollinate these isolated plum trees I selected bouquetsfrom several sources of apricot and interspecific plum-apricot hybridtrees without keeping specific written details. Upon reaching maturitythe fruit from these plum trees was harvested and the seeds wereremoved, cracked, stratified and germinated as a group with the label‘H3’. They were grown as seedlings on their own root in my greenhouseand upon reaching dormancy transplanted to a cultivated area of myexperimental orchard located near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (SanJoaquin Valley). During the spring of 2006 the claimed variety wasselected by me as a single plant from the group of seedlings describedabove. Subsequent to origination of the present variety of interspecifictree, I asexually reproduced it by budding and grafting in theexperimental orchard described above, and such reproductions were trueto the original tree in all respects. The reproduction of the varietyincluded the use of ‘Nemaguard’ (unpatented) rootstock upon which thepresent variety was true to type.

The present variety is most similar to, ‘Plumred VI’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 21,051) interspecific tree, by being self-unfruitful, by bloomingduring the late season, and by producing fruit that is mostly globose inshape, clingstone in type, medium in size, good in flavor, and red inskin color, but is distinguished therefrom by producing fruit that ismostly orange instead of red in flesh color and that matures aboutfourteen days later.

SUMMARY OF VARIETY

The present interspecific variety is characterized by a medium size,medium to weak vigor, hardy, and very productive tree. Beingself-unfruitful, the present variety requires cross pollination from anapricot, interspecific, or plum tree that blooms during the late season.The present variety produces a moderate amount of blossoms withsufficient pollen to entice good bee activity to facilitate pollination.The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described during lateJuly, with first picking on Jul. 24, 2014. The fruit is uniformly mediumin size, mostly red in skin color with moderate freckling, clingstone intype, globose to oblate in shape, mostly orange in flesh color, firm intexture, typically 19 brix, and good in flavor.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph consists of four whole fruits positioned todisplay the characteristics of the skin color and form, two half fruitsdivided to reveal the flesh and stone, typical leaves, and two insetsdepicting the flower buds and blossoms as they appeared on the treeduring the blooming season.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics ofthis new and distinct variety of interspecific tree, the following hasbeen observed under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand,Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif. The fruit description wasdeveloped at the state of firm ripe on Jul. 27, 2014, on a grafted treeduring its sixth growing season. The flower and bud descriptions weredeveloped during the previous blooming season. All major color codedesignations are by reference to the Inter-Society Color Council,National Bureau of Standards. Common color names are also usedoccasionally.

It is to be noted that 2014 was an abnormal year with drought conditionsexisting in California. The unusually clear, warm, and dry weather inJanuary led to a very low amount of acquired chilling units, an earlierthan normal blooming season, and an earlier than normal ripening seasonfor the entire spring and summer.

-   Parentage:    -   -   Seed parent.—Unknown plum (unpatented).        -   Pollen parent.—Unknown interspecific prunus species.-   Tree:    -   -   Size.—Medium, reaching a height of 8′ [2.44 m.] and a spread            of 4′ [1.22 m.] after six growing seasons utilizing typical            dormant pruning.        -   Vigor.—Medium to weak, responding typically to irrigation            and fertilization. The variety grows about 2′ [0.61 m.] of            surplus top-growth during the spring and summer. The plant            should be grown on a standard commercial rootstock for            production purposes.        -   Growth.—Spreading and drooping.        -   Form.—Vase formed.        -   Hardiness.—Hardy with respect to central California winters.        -   Heat tolerance.—Observed to perform adequately in typical            central California climatic conditions, which typically            include extended periods of heat.        -   Drought tolerance.—Variety is developed for commercial            orchards and requires regular irrigation.        -   Production.—Very productive, thinning usually necessary.        -   Fertility.—Self-unfruitful, requiring cross pollination by a            suitable late seasonal blooming apricot, interspecific, or            plum, such as ‘Plumred VI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,051)            interspecific tree.        -   Bearing.—Regular bearer, with no crop failures observed.        -   Trunk.—Size. — Medium, reaching a maximum diameter of 3″            [76.2 mm.] after the sixth growing season. Texture. — Medium            shaggy. Bark Color. — A Dark grayish yellowish brown [81.            d.gy.yBr] and Dark brown [59. d.Br] variegation. Lenticels.            — Approximate Number Per Square Inch: 8. Color: Deep orange            yellow [69. deep OY]Average Size: 5/16″ [7.9 mm.] in length.            Width is typically one fourth as much as the length. Shape:            Elongated, eye-shaped.        -   Branches.—Size. — Medium to small, diameter of the scaffold            is 2″ [50.8 mm.] measured 12″ above the crotch reducing to            ¾″ [19.1 mm.] measured 12″ above the first fork. Texture. —            Medium shaggy. Color. — 1st Year Wood Topside: Moderate            reddish brown [43. m.rBr]. 1st Year Wood Underside:            Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG]. 2nd Year Wood:            Moderate reddish brown [43. m.rBr]. 3rd Year and Older Wood:            A Strong brown [55. s.Br] and Grayish brown [61. gy.Br]            variegation. Lenticels. — Number Per Square Inch: About 120            on second year wood. Color: Strong orange [50. s.O]. Average            Size: Small, 1/16″ [1.6 mm.] in length. Width is typically            one fourth as much as the length. Shape: Rectangular,            elongated.        -   Leaves.—Size. — Medium. Average Length: 3⅞″ [98.4 mm.].            Average Width: 1¾″ [44.5 mm.]. Arrangement. — Alternate.            Thickness. — Medium. Form. — Elliptical. Apex. — Acuminate.            Base. — Acute with an average angle base angle of 70            degrees. Surface. — Smooth. Color. — Dorsal Surface:            Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG]. Ventral Surface: Moderate            yellow green [120. m.YG]. Margin. — Finely serrate.            Venation. — Pinnately net veined. Vein color. — Brilliant            yellow green [116. brill.YG]. Petiole. — Average Length: ½″            [12.7 mm.]. Average Thickness: 1/16″ [1.6 mm.]. Color:            Strong reddish brown [40. s.rBr] on topside, Light yellow            green [119. l.YG] on the underside. Stipules. — Number: 2            per leaf, up to 6 per growing tip. Average Length: ¼″ [6.4            mm.]. Color: Moderate reddish brown [43. m.rBr]. Glands. —            Number: Mostly 2 per leaf. Position: Alternately positioned            at the intersection of the petiole and the leaf blade. Size:            Small, 1/64″ [0.4 mm.] in diameter. Form: Globose. Color:            Moderate yellow [87. m.Y] acquiring a Moderate olive brown            [95. m.OlBr] center with age. Leaf buds: Pointed, medium.        -   Flower buds.—Hardiness. — Hardy, with respect to central            California winters. Diameter. — Typically 3/16″ [4.8 mm.] 1            week before bloom. Length. — Typically ⅜″ [9.5 mm.] 1 week            before bloom. Form. — Not appressed. Surface. — Pubescent.            Tip Color. — White [263. White]. Flowers: Perfect, complete,            perigynous, usually a single pistil, typically about thirty            stamens, five sepals and petal locations alternately            positioned. Average Flower Diameter. — 1⅛″ [28.6 mm.].            Average Flower Depth. — ⅜″ [9.5 mm.] when fully open. Number            of Petals. — Five, no double blossoms observed. Petal Shape.            — Oval to circular. Petal Margin. — Entire, slightly wavy.            Average Petal Diameter. — 9/16″ [14.3 mm.]. Average Petal            Length. — ⅝″ [15.9 mm.]. Average Flower Depth. — ⅜″ [9.5            mm.] when fully open. Petal Apex. — Rounded. Petal Base. —            Obtuse. Petal Color. — White [263. White] on both sides.            Anther Color. — Brilliant yellow [83. brill.Y]. Stigma            Color. — Light greenish yellow [101. l.gY]. Stigma Position.            — Typically located about 1/16″ [1.6 mm.] above the nearby            anthers. Sepal Color. — Brilliant yellow green [116.            brill.YG] on the outer surface, Pale yellow green [121.            p.YG] on the inner surface. Sepal Length. — 7/32″ [5.6 mm.].            Sepal Width. — 5/32″ [4.0 mm.]. Sepal Apex. — Rounded to            elliptical to match the width and length. Sepal Margin. —            Fairly smooth to the naked eye, slightly serrated when            magnified. Average Pistil Length. — 9/16″ [14.3 mm.].            Average Stamen Length. — 9/16″ [14.3 mm.]. Fragrance. —            Moderate. Pollen Production. — Moderate, average bee            enticement. Blooming Period. — Late, blooms about two days            after ‘Plumred VI’ interspecific tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No.            21,051). Onset of Bloom. — One percent on Feb. 26, 2014.            Date of Full Bloom. — Mar. 8, 2014. Duration of Bloom. — One            to two weeks, dependent on ambient temperature. Bloom            Density. — Moderate. Number per cluster. — 2 to 8, mostly 2.-   Fruit:    -   -   Maturity when described.—Firm ripe, Jul. 27, 2014.        -   Date of first picking.—Jul. 24, 2014.        -   Date of last picking.—Aug. 3, 2014.        -   Size.—Uniform, medium. Average Diameter Axially. — 2¼″ [57.2            mm.]. Average Diameter Across Cheek Plane. — 2 9/16″ [65.1            mm.]. Average Diameter Across Suture Plane. — 2⅝″ [66.7            mm.]. Typical Weight. — 5.5 ounces [156 grams].        -   Form.—Uniform, globose to oblate, compressed axially, mostly            symmetrical. Longitudinal Section Form. — Oblate. Transverse            Section Through Diameter. — Round.        -   Suture.—An inconspicuous Light orange yellow [70. l.OY] line            located in a shallow groove extending from the base to the            apex.        -   Ventral surface.—Rounded, slightly lipped toward the apex on            both sides.        -   Lips.—Usually equal.        -   Cavity.—Flaring, circular, suture showing on one side.            Depth. — ½″ [12.7 mm.]. Breadth. — 1″ [25.4 mm.].        -   Base.—Truncate, slightly cordate if viewed parallel to the            suture.        -   Apex.—Truncate, slightly cordate if viewed parallel to the            suture.        -   Pistil point.—An inconspicuous Light yellow [86. l.Y] dot.        -   Stem.—Small. Average Length. — ⅜″ [9.5 mm.]. Average Width.            — ⅛″ [3.2 mm.].        -   Skin.—Thickness. — Medium. Surface. — Smooth. Tenacity. —            Tenacious to the flesh. Astringency. — Very slight. Tendency            to Crack. — None observed in dry seasons. Color. — Dark red            [16. d.R] over a Moderate red [15. m.R] background, small            Light orange yellow [70. l.OY] areas where sun protected,            Pale orange yellow [73. p.OY] freckling throughout. Bloom. —            Moderate.        -   Flesh.—Color. — Strong reddish orange [35. s.rO] toward the            skin smoothly blending to Light orange [52. l.O] toward the            stone. Surface of Pit Cavity. — Covered with Moderate            reddish orange [37. m.rO] broken fibers when twisted away            from stone. Amygdalin. — Scarce. Juice. — Moderate, rich.            Texture. — Firm, crisp, meaty. Fibers. — Few, fine, tender.            Ripens. — Fairly even, slightly earliest at apex. Flavor. —            Mildly acidic, sweet, typically 19 brix. Aroma. — Scarce.            Eating Quality. — Good.-   Stone:    -   -   Type.—Clingstone.        -   Form.—Oval.        -   Hilum.—Narrow, oblong.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Sides.—Equal.        -   Surface.—Fairly smooth throughout with ridges on each side            of the dorsal fin.        -   Ridges.—Rounded.        -   External color of stone.—Moderate yellowish brown [77.            m.yBr] when first removed.        -   Pit wall color when cracked.—Light yellowish brown [76.            l.yBr].        -   Cavity surface color.—Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr].        -   Average pit wall thickness.— 3/32″ [2.4 mm.].        -   Average width.—⅝″ [15.9 mm.].        -   Average length.—⅞″ [22.2 mm.].        -   Average breadth.—⅜″ [9.5 mm.].        -   Tendency to split.—None.        -   Kernel.—Form. — Oval. Skin Color. — Light orange yellow [70.            l.OY] when first removed. Pellicle Color. — Deep yellowish            brown [75. deep yBr]. Vein Color. — Light yellowish brown            [76. l.yBr]. Taste. — Bitter. Viable. — Yes. Average Width.            — 5/16″ [7.9 mm.]. Average Length. — ½″ [12.7 mm.].            Amygdalin. — Moderate.-   Use:    -   -   Market.—Fresh market and long distance shipping.        -   Keeping quality.—Good, fruit quality observed to remain in            good condition after 30 days in standard cold room at 36°            Fahrenheit [2° Celsius].        -   Shipping quality.—Good.        -   Resistance to insects.—No unusual susceptibilities noted.        -   Resistance to diseases.—No unusual susceptibilities noted.

OTHER NOTES

Although the new variety of interspecific tree possesses the describedcharacteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., inthe central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected thatvariations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas withdifferent climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varyingcultural practices.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of interspecific Prunus sp. tree,substantially as illustrated and described, that is most similar to‘Plumred VI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,051) interspecific tree, by beingself-unfruitful, by blooming during the late season, and by producingfruit that is mostly globose in shape, clingstone in type, medium insize, good in flavor, and red in skin color, but is distinguishedtherefrom by producing fruit that is mostly orange instead of red inflesh color and that matures about fourteen days later.